I was so engrossed in C&L's FD that I was startled (& disappointed - wanted more) when they hit their final pose. Too bad about Luca's fall but as someone else remarked, it was soon forgotten. While I was watching I remember some folks in the skating world wanting "Carmen" to no longer be used. Hope they got to see this Carmen (maybe it takes being Italian to bring Carmen to life). The feed on my computer froze right after their FD ended so I consider myself very lucky to have seen Anna and Luca's FD.

I love this Carmen too! Too bad about Luca's fall, but I loved Anna's expressions. Love the lift with her split. I could watch that all night.

When was the last season there were 4 ice dance teams from Russia medaling in a gp season? B/s I/k r/t and s/z. Long time right.

I think the 2009 was the transition years and now its gradually they are filling the vaccums, expect next season also Stepanova/Bukin to do well, internal competitions and selections for the Olympics team with B/S, I/K , S/Z , R/T and S/B will be very interesting

For whatever reason, the youngsters coming up from juniors haven't hit with all that big an immediate splash since V&M and D&W and C&L all came up to seniors in the same graduating class. I don't expect S&B to take over the world any more than Bates & Samuelson or Monko & Khaliavin or Sinitsina & Zhiganshin or Chock & Zuerlein or for that matter, Ilinykh & Katsalapov. They are all seeming to have to spend some time in the trenches. The Shibs debut year was great and an exception, and possibly Zhiganshin & Sinitsina will manage to edge Riazanova & Tkachenko for third at Russian Nationals, but probably not.

You just can't assume that kids that win everything in juniors will win anything in seniors the next year.

For whatever reason, the youngsters coming up from juniors haven't hit with all that big an immediate splash since V&M and D&W and C&L all came up to seniors in the same graduating class. I don't expect S&B to take over the world any more than Bates & Samuelson or Monko & Khaliavin or Sinitsina & Zhiganshin or Chock & Zuerlein or for that matter, Ilinykh & Katsalapov. They are all seeming to have to spend some time in the trenches. The Shibs debut year was great and an exception, and possibly Zhiganshin & Sinitsina will manage to edge Riazanova & Tkachenko for third at Russian Nationals, but probably not.

You just can't assume that kids that win everything in juniors will win anything in seniors the next year.

Of course, C/L didn't have that immediate splash for the same reason that these guys didn't - they were still quite new to each other (W/P also were of that season too). And all the other reasons that have been listed ad inifitum.

Indeed they have been listed. However, every year people seem to forget those reasons: for Stepanova & Bukin to succeed early, they have to displace one of the following: 2 teams that have medalled more than once in the GP (I&K and R&T) and one that has been to the GPF and has won multiple GP's (Bobrova & Soloviev) to even get to Europeans or Worlds. And then there are other good Russian teams in the wings: Monko & Khaliavin (jr world champions), Sinitsina & Zhiganshin (jr world champions who have won a medal in the GP) and Pushkash & Guerreiro, who had multiple medals in juniors. So the situation is crowded in Russia right now.

V&M had the perfect situation: both Wing & Lowe retired right after the 2006 Olympics and Dubreuil & Lauzon retired the next year, so there was room at the top, couples with slots at Worlds, and of course, V&M were already very, very good, and started their career as the 2nd Canadian team at Worlds..

D&W had luck; the US had 3 spots for their first year: Gregory & Petukhov were injured and retired the next year, & Mathews & Zavozin self destructed at 2007 Nationals, so Meryl & Charlie got a slot at Worlds as the 3rd US team. When G&P were injured the next year at Skate Canada, this left Meryl & Charlie as the 2nd US team by their second year.

C&L had to do their time behind F&S for a long, long time, but there was no other strong competitor for the 2nd place in Italy, so they always had a slot to Worlds, since F&S were in the top 10.This is a common situation (consider what P&B had to go through)

The other common situation is what's going on in Russia now: 3 slots at Worlds, but all kinds of competition for the 3rd slot.

D&W had luck; the US had 3 spots for their first year: Gregory & Petukhov were injured and retired the next year, & Mathews & Zavozin self destructed at 2007 Nationals, so Meryl & Charlie got a slot at Worlds as the 3rd US team. When G&P were injured the next year at Skate Canada, this left Meryl & Charlie as the 2nd US team by their second year.

Melissa's mom was dealing with a very long hard fight with cancer, and lost that battle, so they never did come back.